DeLauro, Israel, Lowey Announce Passage of $10 million for Long Island Sound in House Appropriations Bill
WASHINGTON, DC (June 16, 2016) — Representatives Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Steve Israel (NY-03), and Nita Lowey (NY-17) today announced that $10 million in funding for Long Island Sound was included in the Fiscal Year 2017 Department of Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies appropriations bill. The nearly $6.1 million increase in funding for Fiscal Year 2017 will be used for projects to improve water quality, habitat restoration, and water quality monitoring to improve the health of Long Island Sound.
“The Long Island Sound is a national treasure with a significant ecological and economic value, contributing at least $9.4 billion to the regional economy from commercial and recreational fishing, ecotourism, and other water dependent businesses,” said Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro. “The $10 million provided in the 2017 budget bill, which I have fought to secure for a number of years, will ensure that the Sound remains a life-sustaining piece of our environment and our economy for generations to come.”
“Long Island Sound is one of our greatest natural treasures -critical to our regional economy, our environment and our community,” said Congressman Steve Israel. “I have made increasing investments in the Sound one of my top priorities in Congress, and I am proud to have fought with Reps. Lowey and DeLauro to more than double funding for its restoration, protection and preservation. This $10 million will go a long way in ensuring Long Island Sound will continue to be a valuable resource for future generations of New Yorkers.”
“When I was first elected, I promised to do all I could to restore the Long Island Sound,” said Congresswoman Nita Lowey, Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee. “Our success in sustaining this funding year after year and in substantially increasing it in the House bill this year supports our local economy and preserves the environment. I will continue fighting to save this essential resource for generations to come.”
Federal funding for the Environmental Protection Agency’s Long Island Sound Geographic Program is vital to our regional economy, our environment and the communities that rely on it. Since its formation 11,000 years ago, Long Island Sound has sustained a diversity of birds, wildlife and marine organisms, while also serving as a recreational magnet for tens of thousands of Americans. Today, more than 23 million people live within 50 miles of its shores. According to the Long Island Sound Study, the Sound alone directly contributes $9.4 billion to the regional economy each year and provides between $17 billion and $37 billion in economic value each year.
Federal investments in the Long Island Sound help leverage additional funding from other federal, state, local, and private partners. Since 2006, for every $1 in funding provided by the Environmental Protection Agency, $84 was leveraged from other entities. This has contributed to $3.8 billion in direct environmental project support to restore and protect the Sound between 2006 and 2015.
The funding bill passed the Appropriations Committee and must now be passed by the full House and Senate and signed by the President before becoming law.
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